National Basketball Association

LeBron's hairline is no longer a joke

Published Aug. 20, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The one thing you still had on Lebron James, the one sword you could use against him now that he is a beloved two-time champion was his hairline ... "The Great Recession."

It has been among the things people felt comfortable making fun of James for since at least as far back as 2010, when Tyler, The Creator rapped that he would "fall back like Lebron's hairline against the Mavericks." Check the 2:12 mark (and beware that there is some NSFW language):

And Tuesday, James snatched that blade right out of your hand, making a joke about his own hairline, which seemed to accompany a photo of a shaved-bald James which was taken in the Philippines.

For a few years now, James’ signature headband has been getting fatter and slowly moving farther and farther back on his head. At the point it fell off during the NBA Finals against the Spurs, the Heat looked like they were on the verge of going down in six games. But sans-band, his hairline out for all to see, James became The Terminator.

The Heat won that game and the series. You don’t want to read too much into it. Then again, if there was ever going to be a time to embrace The Great Recession, this is it.